Outside metal blind



1 ATTORNEYS.

I. 2 Lawn INVENTOR Jan. 1, 1952 w. H. STEWART outrslm z METAL BLIND 3 Sheets-Shea Filed March 25, 1949 FIG. I

W||l|am H. Stewart Jam.- 1, 1952 w, H, STEWART 2,581,215

OUTSIDE- METAL BLIND Filed March 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 William H. Stewarf ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 1,-1952 w. STEWARHT- 2,581,215

I OUTSIDE METAL BLIND Filed March 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

William H. Stewart ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. I, 1 952 OUTSIDEJMETAL'BLIND, W li m HaStWQ-m 9 Q- v ApplicationMerolr 25, 1949, Se1iahNor83A69 ome: 1

This invention relates to improvements 111 01112; side metal blinds, particularly tothe frameand blind or louver structural featuregwvhilethe operating mechanisms for opening; and; closing the louver or shutter elements disclosed,,is the sub,- ie ct matter of a copending application fonoutside metal blinds and operating means -therefor filed by. Albert C. Fletcher on March 25, 19:19, bearing the Serial -No.-8-3,4 26.

An jector" t i IWQI iD s. op ideov sturqy frame structure made inseparable sections. so that they can be assembled onthe job; they are separated for safe shipment Without dangerv of being marred. A further axivantagerof this-feature. is that thepa its cangrbe fi-nished in different olors in s p e d relatio sh m Another object of the invention, is, to, provide a frame structure for outside blinds.. including side supporting elements, ofinverted :ohannel construction providin a verticaLpivotaL mount: ins p r ion for the blind lo ver or shutterlelee m sr d a ve tical. asing for conneq lnglelinks p otal y c nneetediwith vthe,ends:ofltheslmttem o efi n an onerationmf;tnedouversnr shu t s n ni n Another Qbieq .of thelr n entionlisutomrovidel sep ra le ifile nd upper and lowerxtrimqchonn nel winembers in which thelo-uveli ort-shutternend; mo nt ng; e eme end-.o eratin members t mely he -the n iphera1 ed es enca edqwhen the; members are assembled for use,

Ano m rth .vention is to provide s arab a e e ements which in fle emblyiaret fie d b m tal:s ewsuin teadioftrequiring-them to be weldedoutonythejob,

An h ob ec of the nventioni'is to nrowldeu improved blind, shutter or .louverlelements-yvhereg .1 sl fihe emen s Y aten ov ded with troughs. on their lower edges fo r drainage, of condensate. to the end of the -1 uvers so than it-. wi11 nQhfiOW. over theouter-sll fa s ft-the nextladi acentzmema. ber below the trough tl ereloy, tending :to keepithe l outer surf aoes v of he louvers as well gastmemhers of the frame clean.

Another ob ect of; theli-nventiongis lto provide improvedlouver andfr meqstruqturexwhichicoone erate when closed to providegsealing cooperation. i fiwe he uve sand r mefillrllctureas willabe ar cul r in edout Further objects andedva ntagsesgrwill appear. :in the following desoriptionofia highlyisatisfactory. bo me f he Qutsid m talz inds inz cc lzm @99 wi my n enfism su pl mentedl yl ne-j X, wepen n aw n illustra loathe-seemed;

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memo-te in o metalli -flames :l seem d; o .:.a. wqodenirimi r sateen, rame- 112;:Whi9h may-be e nq eq y me nos. f;de eehableho k-members. o cov rs;

of v trim fram l2;

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hannel? af q meo jmoun ine orjni r fii up e ti 1y; f .mq en ges. oi nnensur aee qf it res e q v de sp s L o o hs-zo e a.t miaof vertiah ioke;

3 where n. -w icih-.are:conne te -b ots 1- with heme e eme ts 3 ,n ril a e sn fltintco n snond-ru qe emenez I :tofj ealeurei '91. 9 il erinnert ide-o hannel? i ou wards id r Q ,ian e ;2: the-rou er su face ti are delqhan me be J5; he.s e phannels 1 3-;

ing positions of each end element offset from the pivots 20 at both ends of the louvers ill so that the louvers may be opened or closed in unison by moving the links 23 down or up respectively in each of the channels 22.

The louver or shutter operating mechanism illustrated which is the subject matter of the Fletcher application referred to hereinbefore briefly comprises a cross bar 25 connected with links 23 and a crank operating assembly. 23 mounted on the lower portion of screen frame l2 and extending through an inner flange 21 of lower end member 81 of frame H, with bolts 28 maintaining the members in assembled relationship at this point. Between screen [2 and cross bar 25 the operating assembly is provided with a crank lever 29 having a pin3fl inits upper end engaging a slot 31 in cross bar 25 as fully described in said Fletcher application.

Referring particularly to the shutter or louver members an illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 11, it will be noted that the major portion of each louver element consists of a longitudinally concavo-convex inner and outer surface part 32 terminating in the end portions 2| extending inwardly at substantially right angles. These end portions 2|, as shown in Fig. 11 are provided with apertures 33 and 34 for the respective pivot elements 2i] and 24.

Louvers ID are characterized by having upper and lower troughs 35 and 33 respectively formed on the longitudinal edges of the major portions 32 thereof. Trough 35 is well open and as shown in Fig. 2, the trough on the upper louver is substantially in engagement with an outer flange 31 of the upper end member 16 of frame ll along a line where the lower portion 38 of the flange flares outwardly. The upper trough 35 of the succeeding lower-louvers engages over the louver troughs 33 of the next adjacent louvers above them. Although lower troughs 36 appear to be substantially closed tubular elements on the lower edges of the louvers, actually they are open along their upwardly extending edges 39 thereby providinga trough member open by a narrow slot lengthwise of the louvers, so that moisture accumulating on-the inner surface of the louvers will be conducted to the ends of the trough and drain from tapered orifices formed by angularly cut away beveled corners 40', best shown in Fig. 4. Thus moisture drops from the ends of trough 36 instead of dropping all along the outer surface of the lower louvers. The outwardly flaring portion 38 of the upper end member [6 of frame ll likewise tends to protect the outersurfaces of the louvers. When the louvers l0 are in closed position, as best shown in Fig. 2 the lower trough 3B of the lowermost louver engages an inwardly off-set upper portion 40 of the upwardly extending outer flange 4| of the lower end member ll which extends well above the inner flange 21 of this end member l'l. Extending upwardly as it does it provides a-screen below which parts of the lower operating mechanism is covered from exposure from the exterior as well as providing an abutment for the lower edge of the louver as just set forth. In accordance with this construction when the louvers are closed, the cooperation with the frame parts is such that the opening is substantially sealed by the louvers.

When in open position asshown in Fig. 5, operating parts for the louver are retracted to a position well below the upper edge offset portion 40 of flange 41 as just mentioned. The louvers are in a substantially horizontal position and as will be noted the louver upper troughs 35 are all directed upwardly thus providing troughs for any rain which might otherwise pass through the louvers except of course in case of a hard on thenarrow inwardly extending channels l9 while the wider outwardly extending channels 22 provide spaces for the vertical links 23 connecting the louvers at each end. An important feature of the construction is the provision whereby the louvers and links 23 are assembled and mounted in these channel pieces [8 each including a channel l9 and a channel 22 as an assembled, unit, onto which the finishing channels l5 and end members l6 and I1 may afterwards be assembled, at the time of installation on a job for example.

The construction of these various frame elements is best illustrated in the exploded perspective view, wherein the elements are illustrated with drill holes 42 for receiving metal screws 43 preferably of the self threading type at the corners only for assembling the finishing side channels IE on the ends of the louver and channel assembly as illustrated for example in Figs. 7 and 9 and fastening the structure to the screen frame l2 and incidentally securing the screen 12 in place as best shown in Fig. 3 by wood screws 44. To facilitate securing the metal frame II to the wooden screen frame l2 the inner flanges 45 of finishing side channels l5 and corresponding flanges 46 of the channel members l8 are wider than the outer flanges of these members providing access to the holes 42 for wood screws 44 which are positioned nearer the edges in the intermediate portions thereof than the end holes 42 for the metal assembly screws 43.

The upper and lower end members 16 and I1 each have end extensions 41 of the length equal to the height of the innerflanges thereof bent to engage and cooperate with the inner and outer flange members and to cover portions of the channel members l8. These end members are assembled on channels ill by means of the two metalscrews 43 at each corner. Finishingchannels l5 are shorter than channel members l8, being of such a length as to cover the exposed portions of channel members l8 between the extensions of the upper and lower end members l6 and I! and are secured in place by the wood I screws 4 which fasten the metal frame structure H to the wooden screen frame I2. The flange M and its offset portion 40 of lower end member 11 are cut away at their ends as shownat 48 so that the portions thereof above the lower ends of finishing side channels 15 will extend between the fianges thereof and inwardly as required by the inwardly offset portion 40.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 9, the bottom portion of lower end member I! is provided withapair of openings-43 preferably one adjacent to each end, for draining any moisture or dust which may accumulate therein.

In the arrangement of the frame as above set forth it is to be noted that the frame finishing parts, side channels l5 and upper and lower end members Iii-and I! are separate elements which may be finished in a distinct manner, as a different color, with respect to the assembled louvers I0 and mounting channelpieces 18 comprising an assembled unit. These pieces can be packed separately for shipment so that the various parts are better protected from damage. On the job place on the screen frame by means of tacks or the like in the usual manner, or clamped in place between the metal frame I l and screen frame l2 when the frame is secured by means of the wood screws 44 to the screen frame I 2 and then parts of the louver operating mechanism extending frame having louver mounting vertical side mem- "'10 through the screen frame are secured in position. Such means assembling and fastening the parts for louvers and housings for louver connecting links, upper and lower end members of channel formation secured to the upper ends of said vertical side members, said upper and lower end members having end extensions bent to engage the outer sides of the vertical side members, and outer finishing side channels extending over the outer sides of said vertical side members between said upper and lower end members and the ends of the bent extensions thereof.

3. In an outside metal blind organization including, a rectangular metallic frame comprising side channel members wherein an outer inwardly bers, a series of vertically spaced horizontally extending louvers between said side members, lateral end pieces on the ends of said louvers, a pivotal connection between each of said end pieces and the corresponding side member, COIl-'; necting links pivotally connected with the said end pieces so that the louvers may be opened or,v closed in unison, each louver characterized by" having an outwardly projecting inverted trough 1 on its upper edge and an upwardly projecting lower trough opening upwardly to receive condensate from the inner side of the louver element, said upper trough adapted to extend over the lower trough of the louver next above it when the louvers are in closed position, an upper end member on the upper ends of said louver support-' ing side members having an outer flange with a downwardly and outwardly flaring lower portion deflecting moisture outwardly from the upper portion of the frame and against the inner side oil.

which the outer side of the upper trough and the! upper louver engages when the louvers are in" closed position, a lower end member on the lower,

ends of said louver supporting side members hav ing an outer flange with an upwardly and in wardly extending ofiset portion against the outer" side of which the inner side of the lower trough of the lower louver engages when the louvers are in closed position, said upper and lower end members having end extensions bent to engage the outer sides of the vertical side members, and outer finishing side channels extending over the outer sides of said vertical side members between said upper and lower end members and the ends of the bent extensions thereof.

2. In an outside blind a metallic frame struc ture including vertical side members each formed with a pair of channels, one projecting inwardly,

and the other outwardly to provide mountings projecting channel and an inner outwardly extending channel provide shutter mounting members and casings for shutter operating links, a closure channel connected with the upper ends of said side channel members, and a closure channel connected with the lower ends of said side channel members with the outer flange extending upwardly over the ends of the side channel members to a greater extent than the inner flange; a plurality of laterally extending shutters pivotally mounted at equal intervals on the inwardly extending channels of the side members so as to swing from substantially horizontal open positions to substantially vertically downward closed positions with the lower edges of the shutters overlapping the upper edge of the next adjacent lower shutter and the lower edge of the lowermost shutter overlapping the upper edge of the outer flange of the closure channel connected with lower ends of the side channel members; operating means for opening and closing the shutter elements comprising a vertical link in each of the outwardly extending channels of the side members pivotally connected with ends of the shutter elements at corresponding spaced positions spaced from the pivotal mountings of the shutter elements for efiecting a uniform operation of the shutter elements in opening and closing of the shutters, and means for operating said links for opening and closing of the shutters.

' WILLIAM H. STEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 17,277 Messenger Apr. 23, 1929 2,220,405 Jones Nov. 5, 1940 2,233,315 Jones Feb, 25, 1941 2,244,012 Johnson June 3, 1941 2,359,289 Brown Oct. 3, 1944 

